Obama Administration Announces STEM Master Teacher Corps

The Obama Administration has announced a plan for the creation of a new national Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Master Teacher Corps made up of the nation’s finest STEM subject educators. The STEM Master Teacher Corps will launch with 50 exceptional teachers established in 50 sites and will be expanded to 10,000 Master Teachers over a four year period.

President Obama said, “If America is going to compete for the jobs and industries of tomorrow, we need to make sure our children are getting the best education possible. Teachers matter, and great teachers deserve our support.”

The selected teachers will make a multi-year commitment to the Corps and will received an annual stipend of $20,000 on top of their base salary in return for their expertise, leadership and service. The STEM Master Teacher Corps will be launched with $1 billion from the President’s 2013 budget request.

The Obama Administration has also announced that the President would be dedicating $100 million of the existing Teacher Incentive Fund to helping school districts establish career ladders that identify, develop, and leverage highly effective STEM teachers.

Today’s announcements align with the President’s belief that excellent STEM teaching requires both deep content knowledge and strong teaching skills, and his strong leadership in working to improve STEM education

There is an application deadline of July 27 and over 30 school districts across America have already expressed interest in competing for this funding.

The plans are an acceptance of a recent recommendation by the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) which called for a national STEM Master Teacher Corps to identify and help retain the nation’s most talented STEM teachers by building a community of practice among them and raising their profile.

In order to ensure America’s students are prepared for success in an increasingly competitive global economy, we must do more to ensure that teaching is highly respected and supported as a profession, and that accomplished, effective teachers are guiding students’ learning in every classroom. The Obama Administration’s 2013 budget includes a new, $5 billion program – the RESPECT Project, which stands for Recognizing Educational Success, Professional Excellence, and Collaborative Teaching

Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, White House Domestic Policy Council Director Cecilia Muñoz, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Director Dr. John Holdren, and PCAST Co-Chair Dr. Eric Lander will meet with outstanding math and science teachers at the White House to discuss efforts to build up the STEM education profession.